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Workforce outreach efforts gain attention and support

Workforce outreach by the Idaho Transportation Department has garnered national attention with three papers detailing ITD’s efforts selected for the National Transportation Workforce Summit held this week (April 24-26) in Washington, D.C.

The papers were assembled and submitted by ITD’s Human Resources Equal Employment Opportunities Office.

“This was a team effort with Diane Steiger, Liz Healas and myself,” said Senior Human Resource Specialist Michelle George. “We are thrilled to be recognized nationally and flattered and excited to receive calls from other DOTs interested in our programs.”

“Idaho Transportation Department Volunteer Program – Building a Pipeline to Transportation Careers” lays out how ITD established its volunteer program in 2008 to help attract students to transportation-related careers.

Since then, the department’s outreach volunteers have shown many Idaho students that engineering and transportation-related activities can be interesting and sometimes fun.

“Idaho Transportation Career Outreach Program – An Idaho Transportation Department ‘Career Pipeline’ initiative” discusses the department’s multi-faceted approach to reaching potential candidates for employment in the transportation field.

In the next five years, ITD must replace a large number of retiring employees with diverse and qualified applicants.

“Wounded Warrior Cooperative Training Program – A Joint Effort of the Idaho Transportation Department and the Idaho Department of Labor” assists disabled veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan by funding training programs in transportation-based occupations.

Key funding for the training program was provided through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Federal Highway Administration’s On-the-Job Training Support Services Program and supplemental funding offered by the Boise-based J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation. The funds provide for training and support services, such as tuition, books and application fees.

The J.A and Kathryn Albertson Foundation provided $5,000 in support for the Wounded Warrior program and another $37,000 to help support the department’s partnership with the Nampa School District and its 2C Summer Camp for Canyon County middle schools.

Other outreach activities include participation in the “Expanding Your Horizons Conference” May 12 at Eastern Idaho Technical College where D-6 Engineering Manager Karen Hiatt will lead two workshops.

ITD volunteers have already participated in Future Cities competition at Boise State University in January and the department’s Engineer Girls Day in February. Coming activities include BSU’s “Discovering Engineering Day,” hosted by the BSU Student Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and BSU’s eGirls, for young women grades 9-11.

The department has also provided Federal Highway Administration funding for the Junior Engineering Math and Science Summer Transportation Institute at the University of Idaho and funded a similar effort at Idaho State University.

“These outreach efforts were only a dream and a vision of the future a few years ago and have blossomed into a nationally recognized effort for which I am very proud,” said Chief HR Officer Mary Harker.